Agricultural Spreader Speed Control via Steering Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spreaders, such as field sprayers, face safety issues when driving at high speeds through curves, particularly when the reservoir is full, as they may tip over or experience critical situations due to inadequate speed-dependent control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A speed control system that uses the steering angle to determine the maximum permissible driving speed based on the curve radius, with sensors and an on-board computer calculating and displaying this speed to ensure safe operation by limiting the driving speed according to stored relationships between steering angle and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drawbar is pivoted to a reduced extent at high driving speeds to prevent tipping, then safety is improved, but wheel tracking of the towing vehicle is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drawbar angle adaptive rather than fixed. The control device continuously adjusts the drawbar angle based on real-time driving speed signals, allowing the system to optimize between safety and tracking performance dynamically. At high speeds, the drawbar angle is reduced to prevent tipping, while at lower speeds, full tracking is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of drawbar angle based on driving speed conditions. The control device receives speed signals and automatically adjusts the drawbar angle parameter to appropriate values, transforming a static configuration into a speed-dependent variable that optimizes safety and tracking performance under different operating conditions.
2Productivity
If wheel tracking is maintained at high speeds, then productivity is improved, but tipping risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control device receives continuous driving speed signals and automatically adjusts the drawbar angle in response. This closed-loop system monitors the driving conditions and modifies the drawbar configuration to prevent tipping while allowing high-speed operation when safe, thus maintaining productivity without excessive tipping risk.
3Reliability
If the drawbar angle is reduced at high speeds to ensure safety, then tipping is prevented, but the distribution machine cannot follow the tractor's wheel track
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the drawbar angle based on driving speed conditions. The control device receives speed signals and automatically modifies the drawbar angle parameter, allowing the distribution machine to adapt its tracking capability to current safety requirements. At high speeds, tracking is reduced for safety; at lower speeds, full tracking adaptability is restored.
Data Source
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AI summary
The aggricultural spreader has a carrier frame having runners and frame, where a sensor unit is attached to one of the steerable runners for the detection of the left angle of one of the steerable runners. The sensor units transmit the steering angle data detected by the sensor elements to the on-board vehicle computer. The relations between steering angle and maximal allowed travel speed of the spreader are stored in the storage device of the on-board vehicle computer depending on the steering angle of the runners. An independent claim is included for a method for operating an aggricultural spreader.